Concrete finishing apparatus



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United States Patent ()fifice 3,216,338 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 3,216,338CONCRETE FINISHING APPARATUS Walter M. Madsen, Arcadia, Calif., assignorto Baldwin- Llma-Hamilton Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporationof Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 135,664 6 Claims. ((31.9445) This invention relates generally to concrete finishing machmes andrelates more particularly to the final sequences of manipulation,smoothing and finishing of concrete highway or airport runway paving.

While the invention has particular utility embodied in machmes orapparatus for finishing concrete highway paving strips, and is shown anddescribed embodied in such machines or apparatus, it is to be understoodthat its utility is not confined thereto.

In the building of a concrete highway the first or initial step is tolevel and prepare the grade upon which the concrete paving strip is tobe laid and to thereafter install metal side or header forms betweenwhich the concrete is poured. The upper edges of the side or headerforms are customarily used as a guide for supporting the striking offand finishing apparatus used in the various steps in laying andfinishing the pavement, and are held to grade and alignment forengineering plans.

One of the problems in finishing paving strips has been the diflicultyin elimination of longitudinal and transverse undulations which havebecome increasingly more objectionable as the speed of vehicles usingthe highways has increased.

Another problem involved in the finishing of concrete highway pavingstrips has been provision of equipment for use in making the wide pavingstrips required on some of the Wider highways now being built innumerous localities throughout the country, and also for the paving ofwide strips required in the making of concrete runways for airports.Such finishes require prefinishing operations to be performed after theconcrete has been laid by the paving machine before the finisher canoperate satisfactorily.

The most desirable surface finish for a concrete roadway is one which issmooth in that it is without road bumps or undulations, either large orsmall, but which has a sufl'iciently rough surface texture so that itwill assist in preventing skidding of automobiles driven on the finishedpavement. The lines of texture should run longitudinally of the roadwaysince a marked transverse texture in the roadway produces eye wearinessand hum at certain speeds.

The principal cause of undulations in finished highway surfaces has beenfound to be subsidance of the mass after a finishing operation has beenperformed. It is desirable therefore to perform the final finishingoperation when the concrete mass has more or less completely subsided.This has been diflicult, if not impossible, with most of the finishingequipment now in use.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved concrete highway surface finisher which will overcome the abovedifliculties and problems.

It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter which will produce a final finish level with a minimum of slabstress.

It is still another object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter which will etfect a continuing finishing operation in bothforward and rearward directions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus of thischaracter adapted to cause a maximum of subsidance due to the mechanicaloscillation and both forward and rearward finishing abilities of theequipment.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide apparatus ofthis character that will follow subsidance of the concrete or mortar.

It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter adapted to initially distribute surface portions of a concretehighway paving slab to a condition of smoothness and thereafter tofinish the surface of such slab to a required texture.

It is still another object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter which will retain the workable excess mortar on the slab untilthe slab is completely finished. By retaining the mortar upon the slabuntil the final pass, a minimum amount of mortar, if any, will berejected.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter having a single pair of floats set in the form of a V and ofsymmetrical angle but with one float forward of the other fiat formingthe pair.

It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter wherein each of the floats oscillates diagonally relative tothe length of the slab or strip of concrete being finished.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter wherein the apparatus has means to shunt each float so that inoscillation the ends of the floats traverse the center line of thepavement strip equally.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter having means to shunt either float forward or backward inalternate positions while at the same time maintaining a continuousoperation and oscillation or non-oscillation.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide apparatus ofthis character wherein there is means to shunt one float or the otherbeyond the center line while at the same time pulling the opposite floatback or away from the center line of the slab, all the while continuingoscillation of both floats.

It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter wherein, with either float in the forward or rearmost shuntposition, the opposite float may be lifted free and clear of theconcrete slab surface being finished.

It is still another object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter wherein the floats may be selectively raised or lowered.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter wherein either or both floats may be selectively oscillated orallowed to stand static while the machine is moving in one direction orthe other, so that the concrete may, in this traveling action, beselectively finished by oscillating screeds in contact with the surfaceor by static screeds.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provideconcrete highway finishing apparatus having a basic structure suitablefor use on standard highway paving and which is capable of beingadjusted for width in accordance with the width requirements of varioushighway strips or concrete runways for airports.

It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter having supporting wheels adapted to operate on the headerforms normally used in concrete highway or airport construction andincluding means for aligning and adjusting said wheels to the header andslab widths.

It is still another object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter having supporting wheel means adapted for use on side forms orheaders or adjacent slabs, or combinations thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter wherein each float carries on its own finishing function ofstriking-off and troweling the freshly poured cement slab.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter which will leave the excess struck mortar along theapproximate center line of the concrete slab being finished or adjacentsaid center line, when each of the floats is reciprocating andpositioned in either the forward or rearmost shunt positions and whenthe machine is traveling rearward.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter which will strike off the concrete to the proper stages oflevel with each succeeding forward and rearward pass.

It is still another object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter that will disperse the excess mortar and deliver it to lowspots in the slab surface.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter that maintains a reservoir of mortar to be constantlymanipulated, dispersed, appended and made a homogeneous part of theexisting slab being finished during the operation of finishing.

' It is a still further object of the invention to provide apparatus ofthis character having means for lowering the elevation of the floatsurfaces in contact with the slabs so as to enable the floats to followthe natural subsidence which occurs during the time between the initialpass which the floats may first make and the last pass which may be overa span of many minutes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter wherein the forwardmost float closes the gap at the center ofthe slab, thereby wiping off or striking off or screeding off the excessmortar from along the longitudinal center of the slab and directing itto the outside of the pavement slab when traveling in a forwarddirection, leaving a smooth, uniform and level surface of concrete.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter having a float arrangement with angle of attack during thefinishing operation, either in one direction or the other, presenting aminimum of frontal pressure against the slab depth, thereby reducingdrag and frontal swell or otherwise distorting or stressing the slab.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter having guide means for the floats which will absorb the thrustcreated against either side of the float depending on the direction oftravel of the finisher.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter which, because of the reduced concentration of frontalpressure created by the V-pattern of the floats, minimizes the tendencyto create rolling swells in the slab which wastes cubic concreteyardage.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide apparatus ofthis character which, during its finishing operation, will leaveaccumulated excess mortar within the confines of the header forms.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter wherein excess mortar will be dispersed at the trailing endsof the floats, and along the edges of the slab of concrete beingfinished, so that said excess of mortar may be subsequently distributedover the slab for filling in the low spots and following the subsidencecondition.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter wherein each float has a radial or diversion float adjacentits outer end, with said radial float movable between positions whereatthere is an opening between the radial float and the adjacent end of theprincipal float and a position whereat such opening is closed.

It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter wherein the radial or diversion float, either in closed oropen position, under conditions of oscillation either in the forward orreverse shunt positions, will at all times contact the header and neverfall short of doing so, otherwise the impact of oscillation or shuntresulting from the tipped end of the float falling down inbetween theheaders would cause tremendous side pressure against the headers,creating damage or, inversely, prevent the radial float location frombeing too far outwardly of the side edges of the header, therebynullifying the beneficial effect of retaining the excess concrete on theslab for purposes of manipulation, placement and utilization tocompensate for natural subsidence.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter having means to crown the floats to a parabolic conformationof predetermined limits or to provide a straight crown.

It is a further object of the invention to provide app aratus of thischaracter wherein the various functions of finishing and propulsion maybe controlled by a single operator.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide apparatus ofthis character that may be broken down into several sub-assemblies suchas the float frame assembly and the power truck assembly, so thatcomparatively light on-the-job crane equipment can be used and a minimumamount of space or thoroughfare will be required for transport asopposed to carrying the entire machine in one piece.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter that is extremely effective in finishing slabs of concrete inthe minimum of time and yet will sat isfy the rigid requirements ofspecifications of highway departments and the like.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further.sufliciently referred to in connection with the following detaileddescription of the accompanying drawings, which represent onearrangement. After considering this example, skilled persons willunderstand that variations may be made without departing from theprinciples disclosed, and I contemplate the employment of anystructures, arrangements, or modes of operation that are properly withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2-A is an enlarged side view of a forward portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 2-B is an enlarged side view of an intermediate portion thereof;

FIG. 2-C is an enlarged side view of a rear portion thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 33 of FIG. 2-C;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2-B;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1 showing theswivel mounting for the central beam;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of the pair of floats of theapparatus in a series of positions, R1, R2, R3 and R4, during thereverse travel, the radial floats being in the closed position; and

FIG. 7 is a similar view showing the pair of floats in a series ofpositions, F1, F2, F3 and F4, under forward: travel conditions and withthe radial floats in the open position.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a power truckassembly, indicated generally at '10, and a. float assembly, indicatedgenerally at 1 2.

The truck assembly includes a transverse frame, indicated generally atF, comprising front and rear transverse frame member 14 and 15respectively, and end frame members 16 respectively connecting togetheradjacent ends of the frame members 14 and 15.

Since each end of the power truck assembly is the same, it will only be.necessary to describe one end.

Spaced inwardly of the frame member 16 and parallel therewith is a framemember 17 and spaced inwardly from the latter is a frame member 18 whichis parallel with said frame member 17. There are, of course, reinforcingframe members, not shown, since the power truck assembly is merely showndiagrammatically in FIG. 1.

There are front and rear flanged wheels 19 in alignment with each otherlongitudinally relative to the entire machine and adapted to travel onthe top surfaces or edges of the side forms or headers 20 which arespaced laterally apart in parallel relationship to each other andbetween which concrete or mortar for the paving strip or slab isdisposed. The flanges of the wheels 19 are at the inner sides thereof,as indicated at 21. The wheels 19 are secured to respective axles 22which are provided with bearings, not shown, carried by the framemembers 17 and 18. At the outer side of each wheel 19 there is arubbertired wheel 23 secured to respective shafts 22, wheels 19 and 23being disposed between the frame members 17 and 18.

Outer end portions of shafts 22 extend outwardly beyond the frame member.17 and there is a sprocket 24 secured to each of the outwardlyextending portions of shafts 22, said sprockets being disposed betweenthe frame members 16 and 17.

A driving sprocket 26 is mounted on blocks 27 disposed on the end framemembers 16 and 17 so that said sprocket is elevated above the sprockets24. An idler sprocket 28 is mounted on blocks 29 secured to the framemembers 16 and 17. A chain 30 extends about the sprockets 24 and 26 andthe idler sprocket 23 is disposed above the chain and in engagementtherewith to stabilize that portion of the chain in the driving sprocket26 and the front sprocket 24.

The above described wheel arrangement is provided because very often,either in highway construction or airport construction or on any othertype of slab construction where a machine such as the present one mightbe used, it is sometimes necessary to operate the wheels on one side ofthe machine or apparatus on headers con structed of steel or the likeand on the opposite side to carry the apparatus or machine on anexisting concrete slab. In the latter instance, the flanges on the steelwheels 19 would be removable and would be removed so they would not cutthe slab and the weight and tractive force of the apparatus or machineis then carried on the rubber wheels which are on each side of themachine.

A platform 40 is mounted on the frame F and on the platform is securedan engine E, which may be of any suitable character, such as an internalcombustion engine. Drive shaft 41 of the engine extends into a gear box42 to drive suitable gearing of any well known character, there beingrearwardly extending driven shafts 43 and 44 which are operablyconnected to the gearing in the gear 'box 42. Shafts 43 and 44 areconnected, through screed or float clutches 45 and 46, to respectiveshafts 47 and 43. Clutches 45 and 46 may be of any suitable well knowncharacter and need not be described in detail, said clutches beingmerely for the purpose of selectively connecting or disconnecting theshafts 47 and '48 with the driving mechanism provided therefor in thegear box.

There is also means for connecting the driving gears in the gear boxwith the driving sprockets 26 to thereby drive the supporting wheels forthe power truck assembly. This means includes shafts 50 and 51 whichextend from the gear box longitudinally of the power truck assembly,said shafts being operably connected to suitable gears in said gear boxwhereby power from the engine E is transmitted to said shafts 58 and 51.Shafts 5t) and 51 have sprockets 52 and 53 respectively secured thereto,and said sprockets 52 and 53 are operably connected to sprockets 54 and55 mounted on sleeves 56 and 57 respectively which transmit power topower truck drive shafts 58 and 59 respectively through respectiveclutches 60 6 and 61. Drive shafts 58 and 59 are connected to thedriving sprockets 26 at the respective ends of the frame F.

There is also an engine clutch 65 for engaging and disengaging the shaft41 from the engine and any suitable well known means may be provided foroperating the engine clutch 65 and the other clutches hereinbeforedescribed.

Other controls are also provided, such as the screed or float speedshifter 66, forward, neutral and reverse shifter 67 and the tractionspeed shifter 68.

A support member extends rearwardly from the power truck assembly andhas its forward end pivoted to said power truck assembly by pivot means,indicated generally at 81. The support member may be of any suitablecharacter but is shown herein as a tube.

Referring to FIG. 5, the pivot means 81 comprises a ball and socketarrangement, the ball being indicated at 81 and the socket beingindicated generally at 83. The latter comprises a lower socket member 84and an upper socket member 85, the lower socket member being secured byany bolting means to the top plate 86 of a hydraulic actuator or jack Jfor adjusting the height of the support member 80 and hence the frontends of the float support frames hereafter described. Lower and uppersocket members 84 and are secured together by any suitable means, suchas bolts, not shown, and extending upwardly from the ball is a spindle88 pivotally received in axially aligned openings provided therefor inthe forward end of the support member 80. At the lower end of supportmember 88 there is an outwardly extending annular flange 89 on saidspindle which supports the forward end of said spindle.

Referring to FIG. 1, the float assembly 12 includes a pair of truss-typefloat support frames and respective floats supported thereby. Since theframes and their respective floats are of the same construction adescription of one frame and its float will suflice.

The float frame is indicated generally at and its float is indicatedgenerally at 96.

The frame 95 includes longitudinally extending laterally spaced parallelmembers 97 and 98 which have forward end portions 99 which convergetoward each other. There are lower longitudinally extending truss-framemembers corresponding to the upper frame members 97 and 98, the lowerframe members 97 and 98 being spaced below the upper frame members andhave forward end portions correspondingl converging and provided with aplate 100. There are aligned openings in the plates 100 for reception ofa pivot member or pin 104 which also passes through the support member80 to thereby pivotally connect the front end of the float support frameto said support member.

The float assembly 96 comprises a longitudinally extending float shoe,indicated generally at 110, which has a horizontal bottom wall 111 andupstanding side walls 112 along the side edges of the bottom wall andnormal thereto.

Above the float shoe there are longitudinally extending channel-shapedguide frame members 114, each of which has the cross sectional shape ofa shallow U on its side. The members 114 have their open sides facingeach other and the lower arms or sides have attached thereto thehorizontal parts of angle members 115, the vertical sides of said anglemembers being in the same plane as the outer walls 116 of said members114.

At each side of the float there is a side wall or shroud 120 to preventthe entrance of concrete or other foreign material into the float shoeand the support mechanism therefor described hereinafter. Each side wallor shroud includes a depending portion 121 having an upper edge portionsecured to the vertical parts of the members 114 and by welding or othersuitable means. From the vertical portion 121 each shroud has adownwardly and inwardly inclined portion 122 at the lower edge of whichis depending vertical parts 123 from the lower edge of which there is adownwardly and inwardly inclined part 124 which has its free edge invertically sliding engagement with the upstanding walls 112 of the floatshoe 110.

The float shoe 110 is connected to and supported by the channel guideframe 114. This connection or connecting means comprises a plurality oftransverse channel pieces 126 in the cross-sectional shape of a shallowinverted U, said cross pieces having their end secured to the upstandingWalls 112 of the float shoe by welding or other suitable means and beinglongitudinally spaced apart relative to said float shoe. Each channelpiece 126 has two pairs of upstanding ears 127 secured thereto by anysuitable means adjacent the respective end thereof and said ears areprovided with axially aligned openings therethrough for reception of apivot pin 128 on which the lower end of a link 129 is pivotally mounted,there being a link 129 disposed between each pair of ears, as best shownin FIG. 4. The upper ends of said links 129 are provided with openingstherethrough for reception of a pivot pin or bolt 130 of any suitablecharacter.

A bell crank, indicated generally at 131, is provided for each channelpiece and each bell crank has an opening adjacent the apex thereof forreception of a pivot pin or bolt 132 of suitable character. The ends ofpin 132 are disposed in openings provided therefor in a pair of cars 134which are laterally spaced apart, said ears being secured by anysuitable means, such as welding or the like, to a cross member 135 whichextends transversely between the side walls or shrouds 120 and has itsends secured to said side walls by welding or other suitable means. Theupper edge of each cross member terminates at the horizontal plane ofthe lower ends of the side parts of the members 115, said cross members135 terminating at the lower ends of the downwardly and inwardlyinclined wall parts 122 of the side walls or shrouds 120.

The arms 138 and 139 of the bell crank 131 have openings thereinadjacent their free ends. The opening in the arm 138 is pivotallydisposed on the pivot pin 130 and is centered thereonvbetween the links129 by spacer sleeves 140 disposed on said pin 130. It is to be notedthat the bell crank 131 is centered on the pin 132 by spacer sleeves 141disposed on pin 132 and spacing said bell crank 131 centrally betweenthe ears 134, FIG. 4. Arm 139 of the bell crank 131 is connected by apivot pin 144 between the ears 145 of a sleeve connector 146 fixed to arod 147 which comprises part of means for bowing the float shoe toprovide a crown in the paving. The sleeve 146 is secured to the rod 147by any suitable means such as, for example, welding or the like.

There are a series of rods 147 with respective sleeve connectors 146extending lengthwise of the float. Rods 147 have threaded, reduceddiameter portions 148 which extend axially from the ends. Portions 148are threadably received in the usual tapped bores at the end of aturnbuckle 150 and said turnbuckle is locked in adjusted positions bymeans of nuts 151 at the respective ends thereof. At the forward end ofthe means for effecting bowing of the float shoe is a rod 147-A whichhas a terminal sleeve connector connected to the forward bell crank 131,FIG. 2-A.

' The cross members 135 have openings 152 through which the rods of thebowing means extend.

At the rear of the float mechanism 96 there is means for tightening orloosening the bowing means to effect bowing, or relaxing of the bowingof the float shoe, it being noted that normally the float shoe isunbowed. The means for adjusting the bowing means comprises a bracket154 secured to a downwardly opening longitudinally extending channelmember 155 which is held in position by lateral arms 156. The bracket154 has a bore extending longitudinally relative to the bowing means andthere is a rotatable nut 158 in said bracket, said nut having alongitudinally extending internally threaded opening therethrough forthreadable reception of the threaded end 159 of the adjacent rod 147.Nut 158 has a hexagonal end at the rear thereof for reception thereon ofthe socket 160 of a wrench 161. The nut 158 also has a flange 163 forabutment against the adjacent end of the fixture 154 whereby rotation ofthe nut 158 in the tightening direction will eflect a tightening of saidhowiIlJg means. Forwardly of the bracket. 154 are a pair of nuts 164which, when tightened together, form a limiting means for rearwardmovement of the bowing means. A bracket 165 is disposed with adownwardly extending portion 166 at the rear side of the socket of thewrench to thereby retain said wrench on the adjacent portion of the rod147 and there are a pair of nuts 167 at the rear or outer side of saidpart 166 of bracket 165 which, when locked together, provide limitingmeans for forward movement of said bowing means. With this arrangementthe wrench is retained on the part of the rod 147 extending rearwardlyof the nut 158 and the socket of said wrench may he slipped onto and oifof the nut for actuating same to tighten or relax the bowing means. Itis to be noted that the depending part 166 of bracket 165 is providedwith a notch 168 for reception of the adjacent portion of the rod 147.The bracket 165 is secured by any suitable means, such as welding or thelike, to the adjacent end of the channel member 155.

While the forward ends of the truss-type float support frames 96 and 97are supported by the support member 80 the rear end of each of saidframes is mounted to and supported by a trailing end support means,indicated generally at 175.

The trailing end support means are of the same construction and adescription of one will therefore sufiice.

Each support means 195 comprises a hollow frame in the general shape ofan inverted L, with the free end of the horizontal part 176 facinlgforwardly. The frame is generally square in cross section and the sides177 of the horizontal portion are short of the forward ends of the topand bottom walls 178 and 179. These forward parts of the top and bottomwalls have aligned openings therein for pivotal reception of a verticalpivot pin 180 which has end portions secured in top and bottom brackets181 and 182 which are suitably secured to top and bottom rear end plates184 attached to the rear end of the respective float support frame. Atthe lower end of the hollow frame of the trailing end support means 175there is a housing 186 carrying bearing members 187 at the sidesthereof, said bearing members 187 having aligned openings therein forrotatable reception of the ends of a shaft 188 on which is operablymounted an inner wheel 189 having flanges 190 at the respective sidesthereof, said flanges being removably secured to the wheel. At the outerside of the wheel 189 there is a rubber-tired wheel 191. The arrangementis similar to the arrangement of the power truck assembly wheels whichpermit the equipment to ride either on headers 20 or on adjacentconcrete slabs after the flanges have been removed from the wheel 189.

It is to be noted that one of the truss-type float support frames 96 ispivoted to the support member 80 at a point ahead of the other frame 96,at best shown in FIG. 1. The trailing end support means 175 of each ofthe float support frames 96 are arranged so that when the apparatus ismoving on the headers 20 the wheels 189 are operably positioned on saidheaders and are in alignment with the flanged wheels of the power truckassembly. In order to maintain the trailing edge support means in properposition and alignment there is adjusting means, indicated generally at200.

Each adjusting means 200 comprises a turnbuckle 201 from the respectiveends of which extend rods 202 having their adjacent ends threadablyconnected with the turnbuckle 201. The opposite ends of said rods areprovided with ears 203 pivotally connected to ears 204 and 205 securedby any suitable means, such as welding or the like, to adjacent suitableparts of the float support E9 frame and the trailing edge support means175 by means of pivot pins 207 and 208 respectively.

The apparatus has means for maintaining the angular relationship of thefloat support frames 95 and 96 relative to each other, said meanscomprising a plate 210 secured to the support member 80 adjacent therear free end thereof, said plate being attached to the support member80 by any suitable means, such as welding or the like. In general planaralignment with the plate 210 each float support frame is provided withan arm 211 connected by means of a pivot pin 212 to an ear 213 attachedor secured to an adjacent convenient part of the float support frame.The free end of arm 211 is secured by means of bolts or the like, notshown, to members 214 and 215 which are secured together by means ofbolts, not shown. The inner end of each of the members 215 is secured tothe plate 210 by means of bolts or the like, not shown. It is to beunderstood that the arms 211 and members 214 and 215 are provided with aplurality of holes so arranged that adjustments may be made to properlyspace the rear ends of the float support frames and the trailing endsupport means 175 to meet the width requirements of any particularpaving job. Also, to accommodate such various widths the power truckassembly frame may be arranged to be extended or retracted in accordancewith the width requirements of the particular paving job.

Each float is suspended or supported by its respective support frame bymeans of a plurality of hangers, indicated generally at 220, which arespaced longitudinally of the float and frame. Each hanger comprises apair of parallel arms 221 which are spaced laterally apart andinterconnected by an X-member 223. The lower ends of the arms 221 areprovided with bosses 224 having axially aligned openings therethroughfor operable reception of a shaft 225 carrying a roller 226 at each end,said rollers 226 being operably disposed within the respective channelguide frames 114.

Each hanger 220 has a tubular upper end member 230 which extendstransversely and in which is operably disposed a pivot pin 231 the endsof which are disposed in pin support members 232 carried by cars 233connected or secured to adjacent convenient parts of the float supportframe.

Each hanger 220 is provided with an actuating arm 235 having its lowerend secured to the tubular part 230 and having the upper end thereofpivoted at 236 to a member 237 carried on respective rods 238. Rods 238extend longitudinally of the respective float support frame and havetheir respective ends threaded, as at 239, for connection withrespective turnbuckles 240. The end rod is indicated at 238-A and isprovided at its front end with a yoke 241 connected by means of a pivotpin 242 to the rear arm 235. respective turnbuckles provide connectingmeans whereby the arms 235 may be actuated simultaneously. It is to benoted that the hangers 220 are inclined rearwardly and downwardly fromthe pivot pins 231 and consequently pivotal movement of said hangerswill effect raising and lowering of the float which is shown in thelowermost position in FIGS. 2A, 2-B and 2-C.

There is means for adjusting the vertical position of the float, saidadjusting means providing very small increments of adjustment and limitsdownward movement of said float.

The adjusting means includes a plate 250 secured to one of the hangers220, said plate being shown as secured to the forwardmost of saidhangers. There is a yoke 251 pivoted at 252 to the plate 250, said yoke251 being connected to a second yoke 253 by means of a rod 254. Yoke 253is connected by a pivot pin 255 to an ear 256 of a member 257 which isslidably received in a tubular member 258 fixed to a suitable convenientpart of the float support frame. The upper end of member 257 is providedwith a plate 259 which is held against rotation The rods 238, 238-A andthe by means of a guide rod 260 secured thereto and depending therefrom.Guide rod 260 is slidably received in openings provided therefor in arms261 of a bracket secured to the tubular guide 258. A perforatedadjustment plate 265 is secured to the plate 259, said adjustment plate265 being arranged horizontally and normal to plate 259. Plate 259 hasan upstanding ear 266 parallel with the adjustment plate 265 andprovided with an opening therein which is axially aligned with anopening in said adjustment plate 265 for reception of a shaft 267 whichextends through shaft opening in the plate 265. At the back side of theplate 265 there is an eccentric 268 the periphery of which engages arotating bearing of suitable character such as, for example, a rollerbearing. The bearing 70 is mounted on a pivot member, not shown, whichis fixed by being secured to the fixed guide 258. Eccentric 268 isprovided with a handle or lever 271 having openings 272 and 272a thereinadapted to register with arcuately spaced openings 273 and arcuatelyspaced openings 274 respectively in the adjustment plate. It is to benoted that the openings 274 are offset relative to the openings 273. Inmaking an adjustment to limit the downward movement of the float thelatter is raised by an actuator 280, as described hereinafter. The lever271 is then moved clockwise to the desired position, thereby rotatingeccentric 268. A bolt, pin, or the like, is inserted through one of theopenings 272 or 272a in the lever and in the aligned opening 273 or 274of the adjustment plate. The float is then lowered and the downwardmovement is limited by engagement of the eccentric 268 with the bearing270.

The float is raised by a hydraulic actuator 280 which has a pistonoperably disposed in the cylinder of the actuator 280, said pistonhaving a piston rod 281 at the free end of which is carried a yoke 282pivotally connected by a pin 283 to the lever 235 at the forward end ofthe frame and float. When the actuator 280 is energized with pressurefluid the levers 235 with their respective hangers 220 are moved in thecounter-clockwise direction and the float raised. As the float is raisedthe parts connected with the plate 259 move upwardly and move said plateupwardly. Simultaneously the eccentric 268 is moved upwardly from thestationary hearing 270. When the float is lowered the lowering movementis limited by engagement of the eccentric with said stationary bearing270. It is to be understood that the actuator 280 is connected with asource of fluid under pressure and the application of pressure to saidactuator is under the control of suitable valve means, or the like.

Each float is oscillated and since the mechanism for oscillating thefloats is the same, a description of one will be suflicient. Referringto FIGS. 1 and 2-A, there is a gear box 285 having sleeves 285a atopposite sides thereof slidably mounted on guide rods 285b. The ends ofrods 285b are secured to brackets 285a attached by bolts 285d, thus thegear box 285 is slidably movable longitudinally of the float supportframe between predetermined forward and rearward positions. An actuator285e, FIGS. 1 and 2-A, has one end 285 operably secured to a member 285gof the float support frame, the other end, 285k, FIG. 1, of saidactuator .being operably secured to the gear box. There are conduits 285and 285k for the actuator 285s which are connected to a source of fluidunder pressure for operating said actuator, and there are control meansfor controlling the supply of pressure fluid to said actuator wherebythe latter will move the gear box 285 forwardly and rearwardly to thelimits of movement or to fixedly position the box 285 at selectedintermediate positions.

The gear box 285 includes the necessary gear system and there is aninput shaft 286 connected with the gear system and said shaft isprovided with a universal joint 287, which in turn is connected to oneend of an internally grooved tubular sleeve 288 within which a splinedshaft 289 is telescopically received. The outer end of the splined shaft289 is connected to a universal joint 290 which is connected to theadjacent end of the rearwardly extending shaft 47 or 48 of clutch 45 or46. Thus the power connection between the shaft 47 and the gear box isvariable as to length to take care of adjustment movements of said gearbox.

It is to be noted that the connection between the gear mechanism in thebox 285 of the rearwardly spaced float system is longer than theconnection for the other float system and because of the telescopingarrangement of the sleeve 288 and shaft 289 the length of the connectionmay be varied to accommodate changes in the adjustment of the floatsystems in accordance wit-h the width of the paving slab to be finished.

A shaft 295 extends outwardly from the outer side of the gear box 285and is, of course, operably connected with the gear system therein. Atthe outer end of shaft 295 there is fixed an eccentric disc 296 which iskeyed to said shaft and rotated thereby. On the disc 296 is operablysecured an eccentric strap comprising parts 297 and 298 connectedtogether by means of bolts 299.

Strap part 298 is provided with a radially extending boss 300 having atits outer end a reduced diameter part 301 provided with an internallythreaded bore in which is threadably received the reduced diameter endportion 302 of an actuating rod 303. The threaded connection is for thepurpose of adjusting the rod 303 toward or away from the eccentricmechanism and a lock nut 304 is provided on the reduced diameter part302 to secure the parts in the adjusted position.

The rear end of the rod or pitman 303 is connected toa pair ofoscillating levers 305 by means of a pivot pin 306. The upper ends oflevers 305 are pivotally supported on a pivot pin 307 which is mountedbetween a pair of depending ears 308 attached to a suitable convenientportion of the float support frame angle brackets 309. Levers 305 havelower end portions which extend below the pivot pin 306 and the lowerends of said levers are provided with a pivot pin 310 connected with aconnecting member 311 carried at the outer end of a connecting rod 312which extends into a cylinder 314 of a shock absorber, indicatedgenerally at 315. The rear end of the shock absorber is operablyconnected to a fixed support 317 by means of a member 318 and said shockabsorber absorbs any shocks transmitted from the eccentric when the rod303 changes direction of movement.

When the eccentric disc 296 is rotated the rod 303 is actuated to causethe lever 305 to oscillate or swing and thereby efiect oscillation ofthe float through the shock absorber. It is to be noted that theconnection 311 with the rod 312 is such as to permit proper operablemovement of the lever 305 without causing any binding. It is also to benoted that the connection 318 at the rear of the cylinder is somewhatflexible.

Shunting movement of the float between its forwardmost and rearwardmostpositions is effected by the actua tor 285a. When said actuator movesthe gear box 285 longitudinally to either extreme limit of movement or apreselected intermediate position, the float will be correspondinglymoved relative to its supporting frame by reason of the interconnectioncomprising the pitman 303, levers 305 and shock absorber 314.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the float may be oscillatedlongitudinally and may simultaneously be moved rearwardly or forwardlyby the actuator 285e. Also, it will be apparent, that the float may beshunted forwardly or rearwardly by the actuator 285:; when not beingoscillated and whether the float is at the forwardmost position orrearwardmost position the oscillatory action may be effected. The floatis carried on the rollers 226 and moves on said rollers when movedlongitudinally, whether such longitudinal movement is effected by theoscillating mechanism or the actuator 2852.

The mechanism also includes means for absorbing the thrusts createdagainst each side of the float, depending upon the direction of travelof the apparatus. This means includes an inverted channel member 325which extends along the longitudinal center of the float system and hasaligned openings through side walls 326 for reception of the shafts 225of the hangers 220. At the outer side of the depending side walls 326 ofthe channel member 325 are secured plates 327 by welding or othersuitable means and said plates have secured thereto bosses 328 for theshafts 225. The channel member 325 is thus securely positioned betweenthe arms 221 of the hangers and within the channel are a plurality oflongitudinally spaced rollers mounted on upwardly extending shafts 331.The lower ends of shafts 331 are carried by mounting plates 332 attachedto the upper horizontal wall of the center channel member 155. Rollers330 are positioned between adjacent shafts 225 so as not to interferewith longitudinal movements of the float, either effected by theoscillating mechanism or the shunting mechanism.

At the end of each float shoe there is a radial or diversion float,indicated generally at 340. The float 340 is rectangular in crosssection, having a bottom 341, a top wall 342 and side walls 344. Eachend of the radial float is closed by an end wall 345 and it is to benoted that the radial float is in the shape of a nonrectangularparallelogram. The front and rear ends of the float shoe are parallel tothe direction of movement of the apparatus. In other words .the frontand rear ends of the float shoe are parallel to the headers and areclosed by end walls 346, FIGS. -6 and 7,. The ends of the radial floatwhen in the closed position are parallel to the ends of the float shoeand when said radial float is in the closed position the ends adjacentthe rear end of the float shoe abut the adjacent end of the float shoeand the float shoe and radial float are in longitudinal alignment witheach other, as best shown in FIG. 6.

The radial float is pivotally connected by means of a pivoting bolt 348to a plate 349 of the float frame. The pivot bolt 348 is locatedadjacent the inner side and toward the rear of the radial float, as bestshown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

There is means for moving the radial float between the closed and openposition, said means comprising a hydraulic actuator 350, FIG. 2-C,having one end 351, connected by means of a pivot pin 352, to aconvenient fixed part of the float. The opposite end 353 of the actuatoris connected to the radial float by means of a pivot pin 354 secured tothe top of said float and forwardly of the pivot 348. There arehydraulic conduits 356 and 357 connected with a suitable source ofhydraulic pressure for actuating said actuator to effect opening andclosing of the radial float. There are, of course, suitable controls forthe pressure fluid to the actuator 350, so thatthe radial float may beselectively actuated in the opening and closing directions.

In preparing the apparatus for use, it is adjusted for width inaccordance with the width of the slab to be finished. The adjustmentsinclude the proper positioning of the rear wheels of the floats on theheaders and securing the various adjusting means.

The floats are shunted so that they are properly positioned relative tothe longitudinal center line of the slab while also having the radialfloats in contact with the header at all times, either in the closed oropen position and under conditions of oscillation either in the forwardor reverse shunt position. The radial floats should never fall shortinwardly of the headers, otherwise the impact of oscillation or shuntresulting from the tip end of the float falling down in between theheaders would cause tremendous side pressure against the headers andcreate damage. Another advantage of the present apparatus is thearrangement whereby the floats initially are positioned upwardly of thefinal vertical position and are adjusted downwardly with eachprogressive forward and rearward pass until they finally just comeapproximately to the top of headers without creating massive pressurethereon.

The apparatus is also adjusted for providing the desired crown. Suchcrown may have a parabolic confirmation by suitable adjustment of therespective nuts 158 at the rear of the floats. Alternatively the forwardend of the support member 80 may be provided with a suitable power jackarrangement or by shimming plate 86 so that a straight crown of desiredheighth may be provided. In such case the parabolic crown attachmentwould not be operative but instead would be set in a position holdingthe float shoe face in a straight line so that the action of the centerjack at the front end of the V frame would come into play and therebycreate the straight crown effect.

Initially the concrete is mixed, deposited between the headers andsubjected to spreading and predistribution and rough finishing. Theseoperations are prior to the final finishing operation and are effectedby the usual concrete mixing equipment, concrete spreader, concretetamper, and concrete rough finishing machine.

After the concrete has been rough finished the present apparatus isoperated and travels away from the concrete mixing equipment, concretespreader, concrete tamper and concrete rough finishing machine.

The operation of the apparatus during reverse travel which may also betermed a reverse pass, is shown in FIG. 6.

As above pointed out, the apparatus has a single pair of floats set inthe form of a V and a symmetrical angle, but with one float of the pairforward of the other float thereof. It should be noted that the forwardends of the floats move back and forth across the longitudinal center CLof the slab as the floats are oscillated. While the angular arrangementof the floats may be of any suitable angle, it has been found that avery effective angle is 35 off the center line of a 25 ft. slab beingfinished.

Referring particularly to FIG. 6, there is shown a series of floatpositions, R1, R2, R3 and- R4, as the machine or apparatus moves towardthe right as indicated by the arrows 360. The accumulation and movementof excess mortar or concrete struck oh by the floats as the machine orapparatus carrying them travels in the direction of said arrows 360 isindicated at 362. This excess mortar or concrete moves toward the centerline of a slab as the apparatus travels in the reverse direction andthis direction of travel, as indicated above, may be called a reversepass. The excess mortar or concrete moves inwardly of the slab along theleading edges of the float shoes and concentrates it at the center ofthe slab where it passes between the adjacent end portions of the floatshoes and is left in the approximate are-a of the longitudinal center ofthe slab. It is to be understood, of course, that there is at all timesa gap or space between the inner ends of the float shoes.

At R1 the inner ends of the float shoes have moved across the centerline CL of the slab. At R2 the upper float shoe has oscillated outwardlywhile the lower float shoe is still in substantially the same positionas shown at R1. At R3 both float shoes have oscillated outwardly so thattheir inner ends are substantially in line with the center line of theslab. At R4 the upper float shoe has moved or oscillated inwardly.

Throughout the series of positions indicated at R1, R2, R3 and R4, theexcess concrete or mortar 362 moves inwardly along the leading edges ofthe float shoes and passes between the adjacent inner ends thereof.

While the float or float shoes are shown as oscillating alternately,they may also be simultaneously oscillated in the same direction.

It will be apparent that each float is carrying on its own finishingfunction of striking off and troweling the freshly poured cement slab.Also, any excess material which either of the floats strikes off isconcentrated at the juncture of the V formed by the relative position ofthe two floats and this excess struck off concrete mortar 14 is passedout through the gap formed at this juncture by the oscillating actionand the space resulting at the juncture. As a result of the longitudinaloscillating movement of each float a varied pattern of excess mortar orconcrete is left in the approximate area of the center of the slab.

In FIG. 7 there is shown a series of float positions, as the apparatustravels in the forward direction, as indicated by the arrows 370. Herethe radial floats at the outer ends of the float shoes have been movedby actuator 350 to the open position since, if the radial floats wereclosed, all excess concrete or mortar accumulated by the floats andradial floats would be screeded off the slab during the forward travelor pass, so that on the following reverse travel there would be nomortar to work upon in the form of excess to be distributed over theslab for filling in the low spots and following the subsidencecondition.

However, with the radial floats in the open position, as shown in FIG.7, the excess mortar or concrete is struck off and accumulates at thethen leading edges of the float shoes and flows or moves outwardly alongsaid edges. The excess mortar then flows through the gap or spacebetween the outer ends of the float shoes and the inner ends of theradial floats, such excess mortar being indicated at 364. Since theouter ends of the float shoes, and hence the gaps, are spaced inwardlyof the headers, the excess mortar or concrete will be deposited adjacentthe side edges of the slab and within the confines of the header forms.

In FIG. 7 it will be seen that at P1 the upper float shoe, as viewed insaid figure, has oscillated so that its inner end has crossed thelongitudinal center line CL of the paving slab while the inner end ofthe other float shoe is at said center line. In F2 the upper float shoehas moved outwardly to a position whereat its inner end is also at saidcenter line. At P3 the lower float shoe has moved across said centerline and at P4 the upper float shoe has also moved across said centerline.

When the apparatus has moved in the forward direction and has reachedthe equipment for mixing, spreading, tamping and rough finishing, it isstopped and the radial or diversion floats 340 are closed by theactuator 350. The apparatus is then ready for the reverse pass to againWork the material toward the longitudinal center of the slab and depositsame adjacent said center. It is to be noted that during this reversepass the mate-rial deposited along the side edges of the slab is pickedup by the floats and carried to the longitudinal center of the slab anddeposited along same.

When the apparatus has picked up all of the excess mortar or concretedeposited along the edges of the slab during the previous forward passthe floats are raised and the machine moved further in the reversedirection to a point where they will pick up the excess mortar orconcrete just deposited along the longitudinal center line of the slab.The floats are then lowered and the forward pass made with the radial ordiversion floats in the closed position. Since the outer ends of theradial or diversion floats extend outwardly of the headers the excessmortar or concrete struck off during this pass will be removed from theslab and deposited at the outer sides of the headers.

It is to be understood, of course, that the above described sequence ofpasses does not necessarily have to be followed. The apparatus may be soused as to provide the most effective final finishing.

It should be borne in mind, however, that when the apparatus is making areverse pass the excess concrete or mortar is carried to thelongitudinal center of the slab and deposited adjacent said center. Whenthe apparatus is making a forward pass the excess material is workedtoward the outer edges of the slab and, when the radial floats are open,said material will be deposited along the side edges of the slab andinwardly of the headers, but

15 when the radial floats are -in the closed position such excessmaterial is worked off of the slab during such forward pass.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the apparatus willfinish in either direction.

Also, it will be apparent that the apparatus will strike off excessmortar, disperse it along the leading edges of the floats and deliver itto low spots in the slab surface. In other words, it maintains areservoir of mortar to be constantly manipulated, dispersed, appendedand made a homogeneous part of the existing slab being finished duringthe operation of finishing. The ifloats orfloat shoes may be graduallylowered soas to maintain'the horizontal float surfaces in contact withthe Slab so as to enable the floats to follow the natural subsidancewhich occurs in the vtime between the initial pass which the'floats maymake and the last pass.

Subsidance takes place under the troweling effect of the reciprocatingfloats. Due to broad variations in moisture content of the mortar, broadvariations in atmosgpheric temperature, wind or other dehydrating ornondehydrating, the time of working the finishing passes of a given slabmay vary-substantially. For example, such lineal length may be as littleas 150 feet, whilea possible lineal footage of as much as 1500 feet maybe worked. Consequently, the amount of subsidance which'can occur is notfixed but is entirely dependent upon the above factors with a givenfinishing machine.

It is to be noted that one of the floats,-such as, for example, theforwardmost float, closes the gap at the longitudinal center of theslab, thereby wiping otf or striking off or screeding off the excessmortar from said longitudinal center of the slab and directing it tothe'outside of the pavement slab, leaving a smooth, uniform, level ofconcrete.

With the various controls provided, either or both floats may beoscillated or they may be held static while the machine carrying them ismoving in one direction or the other. Thus the concrete may, in thistravelingaction, be finished by oscillating screeds in contact with thesurface or by static screeds.

The apparatus provides a continuing finishing operation in eitherdirection and because the mortar is retained on the slab until the finalpass, a minimum amount of mortar, if any, will be rejected.

It is to be noted that a final drag float may be used, operatingimmediately back of the oscillating floats on the final pass to providea final finished texture to the mortar prepared for final finishing bythe oscillating floats.

The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from theforegoing description and it will be apparent that various changes maybe made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of theinvention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof orsacrificing its material advantages, the embodiment,

hereinbefore described being merely for purposes of illustration.

I claim:

1. Cement pavement finishing apparatus comprising: a power truck havingsupporting wheels adapted ,to travel on headers for cement paving stripsbeing finished; power means mounted on said power truck and operablyconnected with said wheels; a clutch in the connection between theengine and wheels whereby the wheels may be connected to anddisconnected from said engine; a support member carried by said powertruck; a pair of float support frames arranged in the general shape of aV; means pivotally connecting the front ends of the support frames tothe suport member, one of said support frames being pivoted to thesupport member at a location ahead of of the pivotal connecteion of theother frame to said sup port member; wheel means at the rear end of eachsupport frame adapted to travel on said headers; means adjustablyinterconnecting the rear end of the support member with the respectiveframes intermediate their ends; float shoe support means beneath each ofthe supportframes and'extending longitudinally thereof; means supportingeach of the float shoe support means and adapted to raise and lower samewhile maintaining same in a horizontal position; power actuator meansfor effecting raising and lowering of said float shoe support means;adjustable ,meansfor limiting downward movement .of the floatshoesupport means while permitting same to be raised; a

,float shoe vfor each .float shoe support means, said float shoeextendinglongitudinally of the support means :and

secured thereto for movement therewith, the ends ofsaid float shoesbeing parallel to the direction of movement of the apparatus; adiversion ,float at the outer end of each float shoe; means pivotallymounting each diversion float to the respective float shoe supportmeans, said pivoting means being adjacent therear inner end thereof,;said diversion floats being movable between a position aligned with therespective float shoes and azposition'outof such alignment, the adjacentends of the-float shoes and diversion floats being in engagement witheach other when the diversion ,floats are in alignment with theirrespective float shoes, there being a gap between said adjacent ends ofthe float shoes and diversion floats when the latter are out ofalignment with each other; powermeansforactuating the diversionfloatsbetween a position wherein they are aligned with their respectivefloat shoes and out of alignment therewith; and respective oscillatingmeansfor "frame; wheel means at the rear end of each support frameadapted to travel on said for-ms; float shoe support means operablysuspended beneath each of the support frames; a floatshoe for each floatshoe support means, said float shoe extending longitudinally of thesupport'means and secured thereto for movement therewith; a diversionfloat carried by respective float shoe support means pivotally mountedat the other end of each float shoe and movable between a positionaligned with said float shoe and a position out of such alignment, theadjacent ends of the float shoes and diversion floats being inengagement with each other .when in alignment with each other, therebeing a gap between said adjacent ends when the diversionvfloats arepivotally moved out of said alignment; means for actuating the diversionfloats between a position wherein they .are aligned with theirrespective float shoes and out of alignment therewith; and means forlongitudinally oscillating the respective float shoe support means.

3. In cement pavement finishing apparatus: ;a pair of float supportframes arranged in the general shape of a V; traveling support meansadapted to travel on side forms for cementslabs; respective meanspivotally connecting the front ends of the support frames to saidsupport means, one said support frames being pivoted to the supportmeansiat a location ahead of the pivotal connection of the other frame;wheel means at the rear end of each support frame adapted tovtravel onsaid forms; a longitudinally oscillatable float shoe operably suspendedbeneath each of the supportframes,

longitudinally of its support frame; a diversion float .car-

ried by respective float shoe support means andpivotally mounted at theouter end of each float shoe, and longitudinally oscillatable therewith,said diversion floats movable between a position aligned with therespective float shoes and a position out of such alignment, theadjacent ends of the float shoes and. diversion floats being in emgagement with each other when in alignment with each other, there beinga gap between said adj cent end when 1 7 the diversion floats are movedout of said alignment; means for actuating the diversion floats betweena position wherein they are aligned with their respective float shoesand out of alignment therewith; and means for alternately oscillatingthe float shoes and their diversion floats.

4. In a float means for cement pavement finishing apparatus: anelongated float shoe having operable longitudinal movements; a diversionfloat disposed at one end of said float shoe; and means for pivotallymounting said diversion float for simultaneous operable movement withsaid float shoe, said diversion float having a position whereat it is insubstantial longitudinal alignment with said float shoe and beingpivotally movable between said position and an angular position out ofsuch alignment, the adjacent ends of the float shoe and diversion floatbeing closely adjacent each other when said diversion float is in saidalignment with said float shoe, there being a gap between said adjacentends when the diversion float is moved out of said alignment.

5. In a cement pavement finishing apparatus: a pair of longitudinallyoscillatable float shoes arranged in the general shape of a V; travelingsupport means for said shoes supporting same With the inner end of oneof said shoes ahead of the other; a diversion float carried byrespective float shoe support means and pivotally mounted at the outerend of each float shoe and oscillatable therewith, each diversion floatbeing pivotally movable between a position longitudinally aligned withits respective float shoe and a position out of such alignment, theadjacent ends of the float shoes and diversion floats having portionsoverlapping with respect to the direction of movement of the apparatuswhen said diversion floats are in longitudinal alignment with said floatshoes, there being a gap between said adjacent ends when the diversion 3floats are moved out of said alignment; and means for actuating thediversion floats between a position wherein they are aligned with theirrespective float shoes and out of alignment therewith.

6. In a cement pavement finishing apparatus: a pair of longitudinallyoscillating float shoes arranged in the general shape of a V; travelingsupport means for said shoes supporting the same with the inner end ofone of said shoes ahead of the other; a diversion float carried byrespective float shoe support means and being pivotally mounted at theouter end of each float shoe and oscillatable therewith, each diversionfloat being pivotally movable between a position longitudinally alignedwith its respective float shoe and a position out of such alignment, theadjacent ends of the float shoes and diversion floats having portionsoverlapping with respect to the direction of movement of the apparatuswhen said diversion floats and float shoes are in said alignment, therebeing a gap between said adjacent ends when the diversion floats aremoved out of said alignment; means for actuating the diversion floatsbetween a position wherein they are aligned with their respective floatshoes and out of alignment therewith; and means for longitudinallyoscillating the float shoes and their respective diversion floats.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,162,665 6/39Mosel 9446 2,358,085 9/ 44 Millikin et a1. 9445 2,386,662 10/45 Crock9445 2,592,960 4/52 Schulze 9445 2,866,394 12/58 Smith 9445 2,948,2028/60 Millikin 9445 2,990,754 7/61 Beeson 9445 3,147,678 9/64 Lewis 9445OTHER REFERENCES Civil Engineering publication, January 1960, page 128.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner.

5. IN A CEMENT PAVEMENT FINISHING APPARATUS; A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLYOSCILLATABLE FLOAT SHOES ARRANGED IN THE GENERAL SHAPE OF A V; TRAVELINGSUPPORT MEANS FOR SAID SHOES SUPPORTING SAME WITH THE INNER END OF ONEOF SAID SHOES AHEAD OF THE OTHER; DIVERSION FLOAT CARRIED BY RESPECTIVEFLOAT SHOE SUPPORT MEANS AND PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT THE OUTER END OF EACHFLOAT SHOE AND OSCILLATABLE THEREWITH, EACH DIVERSION FLOAT BEINGPIVOTALLY MOVABLE BETWEEN A POSITION LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED WITH ITSRESPECTIVE FLOAT SHOE AND A POSITION OUT OF SUCH ALIGNMENT, THE ADJACENTENDS OF THE FLOAT SHOES AND DIVERSION FLOATS HAVING PORTIONS OVERLAPPINGWITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE APPARATUS WHEN SAIDDIVERSION FLOATS ARE IN LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FLOAT SHOES,THERE BEING A GAP BETWEEN SAID ADJACENT ENDS WHEN THE DIVERSION FLOTSARE MOVED OUT OF SAID ALIGNMENT; AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE DIVERSIONFLOATS BETWEEN A POSITION WHEREIN THEY ARE ALIGNED WITH THEIR RESPECTIVEFLOAT SHOES AND OUT OF ALIGNMENT THEREWITH.